Life after 7-Eleven
As new businesses take root in spaces once dominated by 7-Eleven, a wave of changes is reshaping Winnipeg's landscape. The chain, grappling with rising crime and theft, announced plans to close 645 locations in 2026 and open 205 new ones, citing the financial burden of high costs and inflation. Since August 2024, at least eight 7-Eleven stores have shuttered in the city, prompting concerns from residents about vacant buildings and boarded-up storefronts.
The Watt Street pizzeria, now operating as a takeout-only location with enhanced security measures, has seen a boom in business since replacing the 7-Eleven. One resident, Councilor Emma Durand-Wood, emphasized the positive impact of redevelopment, noting the introduction of a six-story apartment building with 99 housing units on the site of a former 7-Eleven on Nairn Avenue.
Despite the closure of 7-Elevens, corner stores remain crucial to the urban fabric, particularly in walkable, transit-friendly neighborhoods like the West End. While some residents express skepticism about the need for additional convenience stores, others, like Joe Kornelsen, appreciate the preservation of a 7Even location on Ellice Avenue.
The closure of 7-Eleven locations has also spurred discussions about a stronger provincial safety strategy to address drug use and violence, with some advocating for the implementation of a franchise model to continue growing in the area.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
